Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-20
AT THE HOME OF JEFFERSON.
The Great Clock at Monticello With Cannon
Balls for Weights.

The Great Clock at Monticello With Cannon
Balls for Weights.
Writing of Thomas Jefferson's home at
Monticello Frank r. Stockton says in the
Century: 1.-THE house was not richly fur
nished, although it contained all that was
needed, Mr.. Jefferson's chief attention in
the way of adornment being to that which
would be permanent; the floor, for in
stance. of the large semi-octogonal room
back of the great hall was made of fine
cherry and beech laid in handsome pat
terms, and is still in perfect condition.
But many of the visitors of distinction
from this country and foreign lands who
used to flock to this hospitable mansion
never saw these beautiful floors, for JEFF
ferson frequently entertained the most
distinguished company long before this
house was finished, when the doors were
made of unplaned boards, the floors of
loose planks, and the walls upholstered.
Over the door of the western front was
the clock, which had one face for the
portico and another for the hall. / am
told that clock maker was brought over
from Germany to make this clock, and
another for the university, and that he
afterwards started fourishing business
In Charlottesville. The weights of this
clock, which ran eight days, were cannon
bolls suspended by chains in the front
corners of the hall and defending into
the cellar through holes in the floor. As
one of these balls made its weekly Jour
ley down the wall it touched and turned
over, the first thing every morning, a
metal plate, on which was painted the
day of the week. There was a weather
vane On top of the house, but as Mr.. jeff
erson did not care to go out at all hours
and in all kinds of weather to see which
way the wind was blowing this vane was
connected by rod with d dial under the
roof of the porch, so that it was only
necessary to step outside the door and
look up at this dial to see to what quar-
ter the hand upon it was pointing. An
other very curious continuance was a
little dumb waiter, not more than six
inches wide, which RAP from the wine
cellar to the dining room, its upper open
ing being covered with movable panal
In the wood work of the mantel piece
In this dumb waiter were two Shelves,
each one large enough to contain a bot
tie of wine; the butler put these in place
in the cellar, and when the master wanted
them be pulled them up.
Not only in his house but in its ground
Jeffersons ingenuity gave.i itself full scope.
In order that everyone might take what
ever degree of exercise inclination or the
weather made desirable several round
abouts'' were laid out on the varying
surface of the mountain. These were
walks or roads which en7ironed the house
one being of quite moderate length, AMI
not far from the mansion while the long
9st was several miles in extent, in one
part running by the banks of the River
Rivanna at the baye of the mountain.
Here one could walk or drive around and
irodnd, always amid fair scenery, and
'ometimes reaching points from which
could be had the mhst lovely views of far
tretching plains and mountains.